In keeping with the reports of early arrivals and early breeding indications, I was surprised to find a young Mourning Dove feeding in the grass under our bird feeders.  The adults scatter at the drop of a hat, but this youngster allowed me to walk around filling feeders and birdbaths and even walked within 12 inches of my feet as I stood watching it.  The 1996 “yellow book” shows a first egg date of February 12 for Mourning Dove in Maryland, so I guess this isn’t a total surprise but it is much earlier than I have seen before around my area.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

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